If you are a mom, you are a superhero. PERIOD.https://motherlymess.com
The messy, insane and crazy life of this mommy of 2..Sat, 31 Aug 2019 08:58:51 +0000en-US
hourly
1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.2.3https://motherlymess.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cropped-motherliness_logo-1-32x32.pngIf you are a mom, you are a superhero. PERIOD.https://motherlymess.com
3232SHRILOK HOMELESS- the ultimate adventures vol.2https://motherlymess.com/2019/08/31/shrilok-homeless-the-ultimate-adventures-vol-2/
https://motherlymess.com/2019/08/31/shrilok-homeless-the-ultimate-adventures-vol-2/#commentsSat, 31 Aug 2019 08:58:48 +0000http://motherlymess.com/?p=125This book revolves around Shrilok, a teenager with an inquisitive mind. This curious nature of his leads him to solve various mysteries, starting from simple robberies in his basti to exam paper scams. Eventually they become famous and even get to travel to various cities and even abroad for cases. Shrilok is blessed with a power to be able to...

]]>This book revolves around Shrilok, a teenager with an inquisitive mind. This curious nature of his leads him to solve various mysteries, starting from simple robberies in his basti to exam paper scams.

Eventually they become famous and even get to travel to various cities and even abroad for cases. Shrilok is blessed with a power to be able to see what others cannot which takes him to London for his biggest case ever.

From robbery cases in Mumbai, to poachers in Karnataka and museum robbers in Delhi, he nabs them all. This time the cases are twice as challenging and the dangers are doubled too. Murder mysteries, secret codes, dangerous villains and old enemies- Shrilok can face them all as long as he has his best friend Rohan Doctor, by his side, and mind you he is only in class 7.

Get ready for a nail biting and engaging experience with this book. Do give it a read to know more.

]]>https://motherlymess.com/2019/08/31/shrilok-homeless-the-ultimate-adventures-vol-2/feed/1FLYAWAY BOY- JANE DE SUZAhttps://motherlymess.com/2019/08/31/flyaway-boy-jane-de-suza/
https://motherlymess.com/2019/08/31/flyaway-boy-jane-de-suza/#commentsSat, 31 Aug 2019 08:46:57 +0000http://motherlymess.com/?p=117This often happens, you know. When someone we love is around, we don’t tell them how we really feel about them. We’re don’t appreciate them. And when they are gone, we wish we had. We all do it, so don’t feel bad if you do too. It’s just part of who we are. We’re humans. This book is about Kabir....

]]>This often happens, you know. When someone we love is around, we don’t tell them how we really feel about them. We’re don’t appreciate them. And when they are gone, we wish we had. We all do it, so don’t feel bad if you do too. It’s just part of who we are. We’re humans.

This book is about Kabir. Kabir doesn’t fit in. Not in the classroom, on the playing field nor in his own family. Why is it always you? Why can’t you be more quiet? Disciplined? Normal? Studious? Why can’t you be more like Kavni? Or better. Why can’t you be less like you? This was all that kabir got to hear.

But kabir was special, one of a kind, in his own world, loveable and caring. He was unlike the others, unlike the usual us. No one saw nor appreciated the real him. All they wanted was for him to be their version of a good boy. This book brings us face to face with a stark reality of our world.

This book brings us face to face with the stark reality of todays world. We expect so much from our children that unknowingly we snatch their childhood from them. And for what? To be better adults! We judge them on their Mark’s, which we forget is just a part of their lives and not a deciding factor. We often forget to see the good in them and concentrate only on the bad. Do this, dont do that is all that we say.

We need to learn to appreciate every child for his uniqueness, his originality and look out for the good in him. We need to stop comparing and judging. And just let them be. Do give this book a read. Because words are not doing enough justice to my feelings. Thank you @penguinindia for these beautiful reads. @penguinindia @reader_viddh #puffinreadinglist

]]>https://motherlymess.com/2019/08/31/flyaway-boy-jane-de-suza/feed/6Childbirth.https://motherlymess.com/2019/08/21/childbirth/
https://motherlymess.com/2019/08/21/childbirth/#commentsWed, 21 Aug 2019 14:38:58 +0000http://motherlymess.com/?p=110Every mother about to pop out her baby is scared, nervous, anxious and everything else about the birthing process. How would it go? When would the time come? How would my little one be delivered? And thus, starts the research about the birthing process. Normal vaginal delivery or a C-sec? Almost all of us opt for the normal vaginal delivery...

]]>Every mother about to pop out her baby is scared, nervous, anxious and everything else about the birthing process. How would it go? When would the time come? How would my little one be delivered? And thus, starts the research about the birthing process. Normal vaginal delivery or a C-sec?

Almost all of us opt for the
normal vaginal delivery process. There are a very few women who opt for the
C-sec. C-sec sometimes is an option and sometimes the situation during the
birthing process demands for it. But majority of us still prefer to go the
natural way.

I am a mom of two. One was born
via the normal vaginal delivery and the other through a C-sec. I have seen and
experienced both sides of the coin. So here is a detailed review of both
through my eyes. These are completely my personal experiences and of a few very
close friends and family. I would be discussing each of them with their pros
and cons.

So first let’s go the normal way.

Normal vaginal delivery: Baby is delivered vaginally. The doctor might have to do episiotomy to enlarge your birth canal. Episiotomy is a surgical cut made at the opening of the vagina during childbirth to aid a difficult delivery and prevent rupture of tissues. The mother has to wait until she goes into labor. Sometimes if the mother doesn’t go into labor, then it has to be induced. Let me tell you here, not necessary that the labor would be induced in the first attempt itself. It might take 2 to 3 attempts as well. Mothers can opt for epidural anaesthesia during this birthing process. Again, some people have this misconception that epidural anaesthesia would completely get rid of the pain. But its not so. It reduces the pain intensity by almost 60 to 70% but not completely. It gives you an analgesic effect and not an anaesthetic effect. Definitely your delivery would be less painful and smoother than if you don’t opt for it.

Cons:

You cannot plan your delivery date in advance.
Like some people have this shubh din wala concept. I mean even if you plan, and
the doctor induces labor, not necessary you will deliver on the selected date.

Going through the labor and having a vaginal
delivery is a long process that can be physically taxing for the mother.

Also, with vaginal delivery there is always a
risk of overstretching of the skin and tissues around the vagina, which may
lead to weakness or injury to the pelvic floor muscles, which if severe might
lead to incontinence in the long run.

Your post-partum bleeding would be somewhere
between 15 to 20 days.

Pros:

Your hospital stay will be minimal. Today you
deliver, tomorrow evening or max day after you will be in the comfort of your
home (0verall not more than 24 to 48 hours).

It is a minimal invasive procedure. Why I say
minimal? Because as mentioned earlier in case of some last-minute situations,
you might get an episiotomy incision.

Since any major surgery is avoided, so are its
associated risks, like bleeding, scarring, infections and reactions to
anaesthesia.

Recovery is faster as compared to a C-sec.

For the baby- the mother can have immediate
contact with the baby and thus start breastfeeding immediately. Babies also
receive an early dose of good bacteria while travelling through the birth canal
which boosts their immune system and protects their intestinal tracts. It is
also said that the muscles involved during this birthing process help to
squeeze out the fluid from the baby’s lungs, making babies less likely to
suffer from breathing problems at the time of birth. However, if the mom has
had a long labor or if a big baby is delivered via this process then the baby
is at a risk of birth injuries.

Coming back to my experience. My elder one was born via a normal
vaginal delivery. Since I didn’t go into labor until my due date, the labor had
to be induced. Not once but twice. I had also opted for epidural anaesthesia.
But somehow the block didn’t work completely for me. As I could still feel the
excruciating pain. Though I couldn’t feel the contractions. Which was a little
better. Initially I was administered suppositories to induce the labor. But
when that also didn’t work, I was given medications intravenously to start the
contractions. All in all it took me 12 hours to go into labor and further 4 and
a half hours to pop my daughter out. Since she was a big baby, the doctor had
to perform an episiotomy on me. I was able to feed her immediately. And I was
out of the hospital the next day. My post-partum bleeding lasted for around 2
weeks and I was doing my normal chores from the very next day.

Caesarean section ( C- sec): It is opted for in case of
medical reasons like pregnancy induced hypertension, cord around the baby’s
neck, previous C-sec, big baby, less amniotic fluid. It is done with a spinal
block where the mother is either awake or under general anaesthesia. The baby
is delivered via surgery. An incision of around 6 inches is made through the mother’s
lower abdomen. The uterus is then opened with a second incision and the baby is
delivered. The incisions are then stitched closed.

Cons:

There is always a high risk of blood loss during the procedure and infection as well.

Breastfeeding might become difficult lying down until anaesthesia effect wears out completely.

Your hospital stay would at least be of 7 days.

They take longer to heal from, around 6 weeks.

Your post delivery bleeding might be more than vaginal delivery.

The mother is always at a risk of surgical site pain, infection and long-lasting soreness post-delivery.

Because of the incision your tiny nerves and blood vessels are cut, thus you might not have any sensations around the incision area for a few months to come.

Coming to the baby- it is said that babies born via a C-sec are at a higher risk of developing breathing problems like asthma at birth and even during childhood.

Pros:

You can pre plan your delivery date and time.

Your entire delivery process would last for
around 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Pain free birthing process, and if it’s your
second baby or you plan not to have anymore, you can get your tubes tied the
same time (no second incision needed).

I delivered my second baby via
a C-sec. Though we tried for a normal delivery for almost 2 days. Yes you read
it right. We tried to induce labor twice plus almost 10 times of PV exams to
check the cervical dilation. All of this I feel led to some sort of infection,
due to which my baby and me both had tachycardia which couldn’t be controlled
with medicines. And so we opted for the C-sec. And you know what the best part
was? Yes, there is a good part. After going through all that for 2 days, the
baby was out within 10 minutes via a C-sec. Yes. Had I opted for it earlier I
wouldn’t have to go through all of that. However, my baby developed neonatal
jaundice after 2 days (as he was a big baby). So, we had to stay at the
hospital for a week. However, my post-partum recovery was same as when I had a
previous normal delivery. I started my daily walks 3 weeks post-partum, I never
had any back pain, nor any sort of pain or infection at the incision site.
Though my post-partum bleeding lasted for almost a month, but it didn’t give me
any extra trouble. I could easily carry my baby around. Also, I was able to do
my housework with ease.

So, if you ask me, the post-partum recovery was more or less same for me both the times. Though taking into account the pain and duration of the birthing process I feel a C-sec was a better option. Its been 2.5 years after my c- sec delivery and I have never experienced any sort of back pain (which happens to be the common myth around c- sec), also as I said earlier, I was never bed- ridden post my c- sec. Neither during my hospital stay nor at home. I was doing my own chores as soon as I was back home and was back at the gym 3 weeks post-partum.

So, if you are someone who
doesn’t want to go through all that pain of a normal vaginal delivery, DO
NOT HESITATE TO TAKE THE C- SEC CALL. And yes, as some people might say
otherwise C- SECTIONS ARE REAL BIRTHS TOO. A BABY POPPING OUT OF YOUR BODY
IS A BIRTH. NO MATTER WHAT WAY. PERIOD!!!

]]>https://motherlymess.com/2019/08/21/childbirth/feed/8Kids helping with household chores..https://motherlymess.com/2019/08/12/kids-helping-with-household-chores/
https://motherlymess.com/2019/08/12/kids-helping-with-household-chores/#commentsMon, 12 Aug 2019 07:05:23 +0000http://motherlymess.com/?p=105Every household has this discussion of whether and when to involve the kids with the household chores. A coin has both sides. There are people who feel it is best to start and teach them young and there are people who believe in letting them enjoy their childhood till it lasts. I, happen to be one of those who believes...

]]>Every household has this discussion of whether and when to involve the kids with the household chores. A coin has both sides. There are people who feel it is best to start and teach them young and there are people who believe in letting them enjoy their childhood till it lasts.

I, happen to be one of those who believes that it is best to teach them young. It’s never too early to get your child involved in the household chores. It is best to lay the foundation for skills useful later in life. It is necessary for them to learn that it is part of daily life and that everyone needs to contribute in running a household. After all, these life skills are necessary when they have their own house, job and start their own family.

It might be something very small, but it will teach them to cooperate with others and that helping around the house is important. Kids always copy what mommy and daddy do. So what better way to teach them by starting young. It helps to build their confidence. And yes, don’t forget to praise them plenty, for all their efforts.

Here I have
mentioned a few chores that kids of respective ages can help with. There is no
hard and fast rule, chores can be different according to every household.

This is just a general idea I have in mind and that i follow.

Young kids (around 5 years old) can help with folding small clothes, keeping things (especially their toys) in place, setting up the table at meal times, they can help in making the bed like placing the pillows and sheets, wiping surfaces, serving their own food, handing out clothes while hanging the laundry and throwing the trash. It is best to start with things that they can relate to. Don’t look for perfection. Their effort and willingness to help is what matters.

A little older kids (7 to 9 years) can help with dressing themselves up, packing their lunch box and water bottle, setting up their school bag, keeping away their school bag and shoes, sorting everyone’s clothes in different piles, polishing their own school shoes, cleaning up the table after mealtimes, watering the plants and feeding the pet.

Once the kids enter their teens, they would like more responsible work. For them it’s more of being part of the real life than just play. Like grocery shopping, cook simple meals, walk the dog, or taking care of the pet, help their younger siblings with schoolwork, baby sit the younger ones when parents are out, mow the lawn they can even help with the laundry, sweeping /mopping/ vacuuming, and wash the utensils. They can even earn some pocket money this way. In fact, in the western countries, teenagers even take up part time or weekend or vacation jobs to earn that extra pocket money or maybe contribute to household finances. This will help improving their confidence, self-esteem, problem solving skills and self-reliance.

Remember:

Let them help as soon as you think they are ready.

Initially make it fun.

Remember to do it as a team.

Encourage and praise them for however small their effort.

Reward them with whatever you feel is ok.

Never use it as a punishment.

And most important. All chores have to be gender neutral. Learning to cook and do the laundry is equally important for boys as is learning to wash their car for girls.

]]>https://motherlymess.com/2019/08/12/kids-helping-with-household-chores/feed/6Engaging activities for kids that enhance their developmental skillshttps://motherlymess.com/2019/07/26/engaging-activities-for-kids-that-enhance-their-developmental-skills/
https://motherlymess.com/2019/07/26/engaging-activities-for-kids-that-enhance-their-developmental-skills/#commentsFri, 26 Jul 2019 08:45:47 +0000http://motherlymess.com/?p=82Children are the most curious beings. They are constantly asking questions and love to explore the world around them. Sometimes we parents actually need to refer to books and the internet to come up with an answer. Like for example, on our recent trip to Goa, my 7-year-old asked me as to how are waves formed? And I actually had to...

]]>Children are the most curious beings. They are constantly asking questions and love to explore the world around them. Sometimes we parents actually need to refer to books and the internet to come up with an answer. Like for example, on our recent trip to Goa, my 7-year-old asked me as to how are waves formed? And I actually had to google it to be able to answer her correctly. It always amazes me as to how minutely children notice things.

With this ever-exploring mind of theirs, it is not easy to keep them busy all the time at home. Especially kids around 3 to 7-year olds, who specifically have a lesser attention span. So here I am listing a few motor and sensory activities that have helped me keep my kids busy and get my work done!!

]]>https://motherlymess.com/2019/07/26/engaging-activities-for-kids-that-enhance-their-developmental-skills/feed/27Letter from a SAHMhttps://motherlymess.com/2019/07/25/letter-from-a-sahm/
https://motherlymess.com/2019/07/25/letter-from-a-sahm/#respondThu, 25 Jul 2019 08:58:06 +0000http://motherlymess.com/?p=79As upsetting as it sounds, mothers these days are categorized according to their career status. Working mom, full- time working mom, part time working mom, work from home mom, full- time work from home mom, part- time work from home mom and stay at home mom (SAHM).Seriously? I mean, what makes you think that a stay at home mother is...

]]>As upsetting as it sounds, mothers these days are categorized according to their career status. Working mom, full- time working mom, part time working mom, work from home mom, full- time work from home mom, part- time work from home mom and stay at home mom (SAHM).Seriously? I mean, what makes you think that a stay at home mother is not working? Or how are all the above categories even comparable? What is full time and part time working? In case you do not know- A MOTHER IS WORKING ALL THE TIME. 24*7 365 DAYS A YEAR. NO HOLIDAYS NO WEEKENDS.

Anyways according to the classification, I have been a part time working mom and now a SAHM. If you ask me personally there is a lot of difference between the two. And no, it is not considering the office work load, targets, deadlines or the work pressure at home. I am referring to the challenges faced from the society’s point of view. Its strange right? A mother does whatever works best for herself and her family, and yet we have people (sometimes our loved ones too) judging us at every step and every decision we take.

]]>https://motherlymess.com/2019/07/25/letter-from-a-sahm/feed/0Dealing with Temper Tantrumshttps://motherlymess.com/2019/07/17/dealing-with-temper-tantrums/
https://motherlymess.com/2019/07/17/dealing-with-temper-tantrums/#commentsWed, 17 Jul 2019 10:07:13 +0000http://motherlymess.com/?p=76Tantrums can be seen in kids of all ages, sometimes in adults too. However, it is more commonly seen in pre-schoolers, meaning children up to 3 years of age. According to the dictionary, tantrums are basically an uncontrolled outburst of anger and frustration, typically in a young child. I remember reading somewhere, tantrums come in all shapes and sizes. It...

]]>Tantrums can be seen in kids of all ages, sometimes in adults too. However, it is more commonly seen in pre-schoolers, meaning children up to 3 years of age. According to the dictionary, tantrums are basically an uncontrolled outburst of anger and frustration, typically in a young child.

I remember reading somewhere, tantrums come in all shapes and sizes. It is basically what we get to see when a child cannot handle the situation any more. Commonly we see crying, shouting, throwing things, hitting, sprawling themselves on the floor, running away and sometimes even breaking things.

]]>https://motherlymess.com/2019/07/17/dealing-with-temper-tantrums/feed/6WM vs SAHM- The never ending fight.https://motherlymess.com/2019/07/05/wm-vs-sahm-the-never-ending-fight/
https://motherlymess.com/2019/07/05/wm-vs-sahm-the-never-ending-fight/#commentsFri, 05 Jul 2019 10:59:27 +0000http://motherlymess.com/?p=59Being a mother is much more demanding and rewarding than anyone can really anticipate. And managing home and work at the same time is even more difficult. Plus we want to excel at both. Most of us would love to work part-time. But that’s not possible for all. We have to choose between being a stay at home mom and...

]]>Being a mother is much more demanding and rewarding than anyone can really anticipate. And managing home and work at the same time is even more difficult. Plus we want to excel at both. Most of us would love to work part-time. But that’s not possible for all. We have to choose between being a stay at home mom and working full-time mom. Both cases have their own pros and cons. So let’s look at the biggest and I guess the most important decision one has to make as a mom. And all this is from my personal experience of being a SAHM now and a WM with my first child.

SAHM (stay at home mom):

Benefits/pros

I was a stay at home mom till my elder one turned 3 and now again with my second born. It was an amazing phase of my life. Watching them grow everyday is miraculous. For every first thing they did, I was a witness. Being at home with them all day, I know them better than anyone else, and I was around for every milestone, big or small. I had all day on my hands to plan out things at home. Plus I had no deadlines. I could work at my own pace.

My daughter loved having me around all day. She rolled out of bed every morning, knowing that mine would be the first face she would see, knowing that I would always be there. Truly speaking I love that. I love being the first on their list. There were no morning hassles, no separation anxieties and no inconsistency in routine. Not that I was on the floor playing with them all the time. But just being around was very comforting for us.

On my husband’s front, he is always relaxed when it comes to house decisions. He knows I am always there. Whenever my little one was sick, we never had to take turns to tend to them. He was at ease knowing that I was in charge. He was happy and content that his kids were in safe and secure hands. And because all the work was already done, we both could spend some quality time together. Plus he got delicious home cooked meals to eat (well he still gets home cooked meals, but now it’s the maid cooking them).

Drawbacks/cons

Here I have to confess something. I get bored. I remember when my daughter started her playschool I used to love her not being at home for those 2 hours. I had those 2 hours entirely to myself. I could workout, watch TV, dance, do whatever I wanted. I started catching up with friends then. I really loved it. And then I realized, I was better at being a mom then. And now i am waiting for my younger one to start school soon.

For my daughter, I was the only person she used to see all day. She started clinging to me in the presence of others. She was not socializing at all. She was relying on me alone. She knew she was the centre of my universe, and she liked it that way. Any change in that was not acceptable to her. And that’s how I realized that she needs to be in the company of people other than me. And that’s how playschool and my job happened.

For my relationship, it definitely takes a toll on it. I am irritable at times for no reason at all. And that ends up in fights. As soon as my husband is back from work, my daughter and now my son cling to him (as he was not home all day), and honestly speaking I do not like it. I feel jealous that after giving them all my day, they dont need me when their father is there. At the same time I wait for him to get back from work so that he could take charge for some time and that I could rest or relax.

And so life becomes a mess. And that’s how work happened the first time. I wanted to get my house and my kid out of my mind for some time. I realized I needed something else on my mind as well, as just home and kid was becoming monotonous for me. I love my daughter a lot, but that doesn’t make me love my work any less. I started applying for jobs everywhere. I was ready to work even for a couple of hours for minimum salary. I was desperate. Somewhere at the back of my mind, I knew it would improve things. And finally after a duration of 6 months. I got my first job (I was pregnant while doing my pg, and then I was at home with her for 2 years). Now let’s take a look at the other side of the coin.

(WM)Working mom:

Benefits/pros

It is satisfying to know that your kid loves you and so does your boss. I cherished my family, but at the same time I was happy that not everything in life revolved around them. I was happy to start my career, to connect to the world, my colleagues and most of all stimulating my brain. This was something I was doing for myself, and it gave me immense satisfaction. Plus it was a part-time job and so I could give enough quality time to my daughter to strengthen our bond. I started staying happy, less irritable and open to any changes. I was happy that I had something else consuming my brain and not just my family. I remember a very close friend mine pointing out to me, that I was much more fun now and was way happier than earlier. Also I started to care about my looks, the way I dressed. I started taking care of myself. And that’s when I realized I needed this.

Initially my daughter didn’t understand the benefits of it. She always made sure to make me feel guilty about leaving her away from me for a few hours of the day. She made sure to make me realize everyday that she didn’t like it and she wanted it to stop. But on the brighter side, she started doing things on her own. She learned new things in school. And most importantly she didn’t need me all the time. Eventually she was happy being in the company of others, especially her school friends and teachers. It was not like she didn’t need me anymore, but it was ok if I was not in the same room or if I was doing my work.

My husband was happy that I had something else to talk about other than the baby and household chores. I was not taken for granted every time and so emotionally it was good for the both of us. We loved to discuss our work day. The spark in my marriage was back that too with very less effort, because this new me resembled the me that he married. Plus you get a lot more respect and importance when you are a working. You have a say in the house and people look up to this superwoman who balances her house and work so well.

Drawbacks/cons

First and foremost the guilt. The guilt of leaving your child with someone else, in day care, with a nanny. You start hating the morning routine, when your little one holds on to your leg begging you not to go to work. And hearing the things she did in my absence was bittersweet. But for me I didn’t have to worry much on this front as I had my own mother looking after my daughter. Shuttling between work and home becomes tedious at times. Plus squeezing in quality time with your kid before and after work hours becomes exhausting, especially when they are sick. Sometimes you miss having the whole day to yourself.

I knew my kid missed me. She started complaining of me not being around all the time. But i was happy that she was bonding with others who loved and cared for her, and clinging to me was a lot less than before. Be assured, they understand it later and adapt to it well.

For my husband, he took his own time to adjust to it. He dreaded that I was not available all the time (emotionally even). Because after a long day at work, all I wanted was a cup of coffee and some me time. We couldn’t go out every time he wanted, because sometimes I had my commitments. My unavailability was not something he signed up for so it was not so easy for both of us on that front. But then he understood my point of view and then everything was fine.

So all said and done, both scenarios have their own positives and negatives. It is your decision. And yes you don’t have to feel guilty about anything. You know what’s best for you and your family, and so go ahead and take the call.

]]>https://motherlymess.com/2019/07/05/wm-vs-sahm-the-never-ending-fight/feed/10Hospital bag must haveshttps://motherlymess.com/2019/07/05/hospital-bag-must-haves/
https://motherlymess.com/2019/07/05/hospital-bag-must-haves/#respondFri, 05 Jul 2019 10:41:29 +0000http://motherlymess.com/?p=57Being a mother is one of the best feelings in the world. And being a second time mum is double the happiness. First time mums are often confused as to what to buy and what not to. With so many beautiful and cute products available in the market you feel like buying everything. Suddenly you feel that you need all...

]]>Being a mother is one of the best feelings in the world. And being a second time mum is double the happiness. First time mums are often confused as to what to buy and what not to. With so many beautiful and cute products available in the market you feel like buying everything. Suddenly you feel that you need all of it to make your and your baby’s life comfortable. But to be true not everything out there is useful and needed.

Being a second time mom I have tried and tested a lot of these things and trust me when I say this not everything is for everyone. So here is a list of must haves that I found useful with both my kids in no particular order.

things to carry in your hospital bag

1. Diapers – a lot of brands are available out there. Pant style, normal stick on one’s, 6 hour absorption, 12 hour absorption, active baby and what not. The basic requirement of a diaper is that it should be soft on your baby’s skin, should be leak proof and should have good absorption time. Based on this and the ones that I used I found the following brands to be the best.

Wipro – these are really really soft and have excellent absorption. These can be used till ur baby completes 5 months. Well they can be used post that also but I prefer using pant style ones once the baby starts rolling and moving around in the bed.

Pampers – again really soft on your little ones skin and good absorption. Though I had a couple of leaking incidents with these. But still they are good enough. Now I mainly use their active baby 12 hour absorption one at night time.

Mamy poko pants- very useful once your baby is more mobile like once they start rolling, crawling, scooting. Being pant style they are easy to remove as you just have to rip the sides and easy to put on as well.

You also get those Johnson’s nappy pads which they say is very useful in the initial days. But they didn’t work out for me with both my kids. I always had leaking accidents with them.

2. Clothes – stack on a good number of clothes. New borns tend to spill out and vomit a lot. They might poop or pee in their clothes or you might diaper leaks. So just stock up. I basically stocked up on T-shirts, shorts, pyjamas, and cotton cloth nappies. That’s because I never preferred putting them all day in diapers. Plus they help you to keep a pee and poop count(which is very important in the initial couple of months) as you need to change them everytime they are soiled. You will also need socks and caps. No matter which season your baby is born you will need them in the initial few days. And is you have a winter baby then you will need them even more.

3. Swaddle sheets – now these are multipurpose. You can use them for swaddling, or you can use them as changing sheets, they can even be used as burp cloths, or even just putting them on the baby when he/she is sleeping. Mainly used for swaddling. Swaddling gives your baby the same feel as your womb and so they are more comfortable, plus it prevents the jerky hand and leg movements that newborns tend to have and so they sleep well. You can get these sheets from the market, online or even get them stitched. I got them stitched for both my kids (because I could select the prints and my mum is very good at stitching).

4. Skin care – a lot of brands are available in the market. I used Johnson’s powder and lotions and soap for my elder one. But she developed allergies to Johnson’s head to toe wash so had to discontinue with it in particular. With my second one I used Himalaya powder, soap and lotions. I really liked them. I even tried the Dove kids range. But eventually I ended up using Nivea white and mamaearth products (my little one developed baby acne all over his body and his skin had become very rough so I used Nivea additionally just to have extra moisturization and it worked wonders) and Dove soap(i ran out of his soap and so had to use Dove for a few days and it suited him just fine). For shampoo I have used Johnson’s no tears for both my kids and it is the best. But I have heard quite good reviews about brands like chicco and sebamed. Never tried them though.

5. Massage oils – with my elder one I used dabur lal tel and it suited very well. As my younger one had some baby acne and prickly heat in the very initial days so I was suggested to use coconut oil by his paediatrician and since it suited well so I just continued with it.

6. Changing sheets – I bought these rubber bed protectors as I already said I used cloth nappies for both my kids. I got two of them, one double bed sized and one single bed sized (which I cut into smaller sizes) and some small sized as well. They can be used anywhere and everywhere for diaper changes.

7. Baby cot or crib – in my opinion this was my Best Buy with both my kids. I know many mums prefer Co sleeping with the babies but I preferred putting my baby baby in the crib for naps. Since it has railings on all four sides I never had the fear of my baby rolling over and falling from the bed. Plus when they grow up a little and start scooting and crawling it is best they stay protected. It is said that in the initial days baby should Co sleep with the mother. But you know when you yourself have a habit of rolling a lot in your sleep it’s best your baby sleeps in the crib or else you might squish the little one by mistake. I also find the crib useful when I am moving around the house doing my daily chores. Just keep your baby in the crib give him /her some toys, turn on the musical mobile and there you go. Baby safe, no fear of falling, and mama easily doing her work. Now you can even adjust the mattress height. As your baby grows the mattress and supporting plank go down further. The crib that I have (I think I got mine from mother care) has 3 levels. So once your baby pulls itself to standing the mattress is at the lowest level.

8. Diaper bags – very useful when you are out of the house. They have separate compartments for all the things. Plus they come in various cute prints. Actually you can use any bag as a diaper bag. You just need to stuff everything in. Nowadays you even get backpack style diaper bags. They definitely have an advantage as they are easy to carry than the single shoulder ones. But again that’s a personal choice. I have used single shoulder ones both the times.

9. Diaper disposable bags – useful when you have to dispose off the soiled diapers.

10. Hand sanitizer – very very important as newborns are susceptible to infections. You can use any brand you like. I literally had a sanitizer bottle in all my rooms. And I made sure everyone used it before touching the baby.

11. Baby wipes -can be handy for anything and everything. Mainly used for whipping their bums clean. Can also be used as facial wipes. I have tried the ones by Johnson’s and chicco and mee mee. But I liked the chicco and mee mee ones. As they are very gentle on the baby’s skin and they don’t cry or very fast.

12. Baby carrier – well there is a variety of them available these days. I have and am still using the carrier by mee mee. It’s very comfortable for the baby as well as ergonomically good for the mother or father. With my second one I tried the moby wrap as well. But somehow my Little One was never comfortable in it.

13. Hand towels or face towels – can be used as burp cloths or drool pads.

14. Stroller – once the 45 days not getting out of the house ban is over you can use it for your evening walks together or when shopping at the mall. But jokes apart they can even be used in the house. They can double up as feeding chairs as well. The stroller I have has a tray in front and so I used it for feeding sessions for my elder one. And plan to do so for my younger one as well.

In case the baby is formula fed or fed pumped best milk. Then in addition to all the above you will need.

1. Bottle soap -easily available in the market. I used the one from chicco and pigeon.

2. Bottle brush – to clean the bottles and their nipples.

3. Bottle sterilizer – I used the one from avent and it is really good. No worry of burning the bottles as it has a auto cutoff system. Well you will need this only if your baby is formula fed or is taking pumped breastmilk.

So I hope this will be helpful for the first time mums out there. I hope I didn’t miss out on anything.

The collection of U. S. Polo Assn. Kids
spelled a connection with its signature stars and stripes print, and that’s
what won the hearts of one and all. The collection has been formulated
considering fashion-forward kids and their ever-changing closet needs. It
proffers a perfect fit for the appraising and fearless young minds with highly
kinetic shirts and modish party dresses, sporty polo t-shirts and the ever-classic
denims in the store.

Garnered with playful flip sequins along with a bold
color palette, The Children’s Place presented a fun and trendy wardrobe.
The girls glistened in glitter tops and cute floral dresses and sets with
matching hair-bands, hats, bags, sunglasses, and footwear for a completely
trendy head-to-toe look, as part of their collection. In competition, the boys
ruled the ramp in long as well as roll-up sleeved woven shirts, conversational
graphics, polo tees, and jumpers paired with cool colored chinos, contemporary
denims & pull-on joggers which In the latest trendsetting colors.

The fresh collection of Flying Machine Boys
shone the spotlight donning uber cool styles in vogue for young boys. The collection illustrated the signature
designs of Flying Machine and combined with charming and contemporary trends in
children’s fashion. And I am not exaggerating when I say that the boys looked
handsome.

Hugo Boss showcased their most recent
collection ensuring that it remains the perfect choice of couture
from when the sun rises until the sun sets. Starting with polo shirts, coats,
and blazers, the Hugo Boss
range comprised of all things
fashionable. Their shirt dresses were a total win with us moms.

DKNY with its scintillating
range of apparels presented a diverse collection that draws an undeniable similarity to the widely accepted
aesthetics in New York City, the home city of the founder. Their showcased shoes were must haves in the kids wardrobe.

While Billie blush catered to soft fabrics and
delicate styles adding to the feminine vibes, leaving no room for rejection. Resonating with the ongoing
trends, their dresses sported popular patterns- whether it is unicorn or rainbows or pastels. Their entire range was so breezy and so summery.

There is always a dash of chic and sprightly in every ensemble instilled in the collections of
the house of Little Marc Jacobs. Its collections draw
inspiration from the urban lifestyles of
the concrete jungle. Their fanny pack print shirt dresses for girls was the
highlight of their collection.

Timberland’s range of apparels for this summer-spring collection
portrayed some of the trendiest of street styles in the kids’ apparels industry.
The fulcrum of their operations, being outdoor lifestyle, their clothes
were the perfect combination of smart, casual and comfortable.

JFW
is an upmarket platform for kids, Junior’s Fashion Week showcases crème de la
crème of children’s apparel, footwear, accessories, décor, and everything else
for kids from four to fourteen years.
The Runway Showcase is preceded by wholesome workshops which encompass the
grooming workshop, the social etiquettes and photography session. The JFW
workshops are helmed by eminent celebrity choreographer whose teachings imbue
little ones with a lifetime’s learnings to make a big difference in this world
of fashion by grooming their personalities and imbibing their ardent zeal
towards perfection.